India Responded To Distress Call From IRIS Dena, Launched Search Operation: Navy

The Indian Navy on Thursday said it launched a search and rescue mission after receiving a distress call from the Iranian warship IRIS Dena, which was reportedly hit by a US torpedo, leaving most of the sailors on board feared dead. The ship was operating 20 NM West of Galle in the Special Administrative Region (SAR) under Sri Lankan responsibility. On receipt of the information, the Indian Navy promptly launched its search and rescue efforts commencing with a long-range maritime patrol aircraft at 1000 hr on March 4 to augment the search efforts led by Sri Lanka. Another aircraft with air droppable life rafts was also kept standby for immediate deployment.

A distress call from IRIS Dena was received at the MRCC Colombo in the early hours of 04 March 26 as reported by the Sri Lankan Navy. The ship was operating 20 NM West of Galle in the SAR region under Sri Lankan responsibility. On receipt of the information, the Indian Navy… pic.twitter.com/LpaigiCesp

— ANI (@ANI) March 5, 2026

INS Tarangini which was operating in vicinity was deployed for aiding the rescue efforts and arrived in search area by 1600 hr on March 4. By this time SAR had been undertaken by Sri Lankan Navy and other agencies. INS Ikshak has also sailed from Kochi to augment the search efforts and continues to remain in the area to search for missing personnel as a humanitarian measure for ship wrecked personnel. Coordination with the Sri Lankan side on Search and Rescue efforts is ongoing.

IRGC Claims Retaliation

Tensions in the Iran-US-Israel conflict have intensified at sea after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it struck a US oil tanker with a missile in the northern Persian Gulf on Thursday. According to Iran’s state-run Mehr News Agency, the IRGC said the strike on the tanker was carried out in response to what it described as American “aggression”.

The IRGC warned that military or commercial vessels belonging to the United States, Israel or European countries supporting them would not be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz during the conflict.

The group also reiterated that during wartime Iran would exercise control over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints connecting the Persian Gulf to international shipping routes.